Notes of hospital life from November, 1861, to August, 1863Anonymous
History
Notes of hospital life from November, 1861, to August, 1863
Anonymous
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Hospitals
I well knew what “that paper” meant, for it was through it that we
first found out what a true, loving heart beat in the breast of our
bright, frank, off-hand Charlie. His brother, also in the army, had been
wounded, brought here to another hospital, and died there while Charlie
was here, without his knowing it. With that thoughtful kindness which
has brought comfort to many an aching heart during this sad war, one of
the ladies preserved a lock of his hair for his family; and hearing,
after all was over, that Charlie was here, brought it to him, and gave
him all the particulars of his brother’s death. No one, who had once
heard Charlie give that account, could ever forget it; the deep, bitter
sorrow, which refused to be comforted; the unavailing regret--almost
self-reproach--with which he wound up, “And to think I was so near, and
never went to him!”--this seemed to be more than he could bear.
We always found ourselves more ready to sympathize with him in his grief,
because he entered into every one else’s interests so warmly, whether of
joy or sorrow. “That paper,” therefore, I knew contained this precious
lock of hair; which, he told me only a few days ago, he wanted to send
to his mother,--“all she can ever have of her boy”--and had delayed
doing so, only because he wished to give it to the chaplain to send for
him. It needed no words of his, to tell me what a loss this was to him.
Later in the day, however, as he was walking through the grounds, he saw
the man whom he had suspected, seated under a tree with a woman,--who
afterwards proved to be his sister, and to whom, they found, he had
given one-half of the money. Notice was given at once to the police, who
immediately arrested both of them. On being detected, the man instantly
put a roll of notes into his mouth, and tried to chew them up; this was
speedily prevented by the policeman, who throttled him and compelled him
to disgorge them. “But,” said Charlie, “I begged him not to choke him,
as I wanted to hear where the pocket-book was, much more than to get the
money.” This, however, the man obstinately refused to return, nor could
it be found upon him after the strictest search. “After telling him what
was in it, too,” continued Charlie, “after begging and beseeching him by
the love of his own mother, just to give me the pocket-book, and keep
the money (evidently, from what he told me, to the infinite disgust of
the policeman), could you believe me, that he wouldn’t listen to me, but
walked on, just as if he didn’t hear me? As we went along, I saw him
suddenly pitch something over a fence at his side; a thought darted into
my mind; over that fence I dashed, and sure enough, down there in the
grass, was my little white paper; and now they may keep my money, and
welcome.” It seemed to perplex him terribly, where the paper could have
been concealed during the search, or how the man happened to have it out
of the pocket-book; but such was the fact, just as he related it. He
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account